At least 11 people including seven civilians, three militants and a soldier were killed in a blood-spattered gunfight in South Kashmir’s Pulwama district.The civilian casualties occurred when protesters hit to roads during the gunfight and clashed with deployed forces. The Forces used live ammunition to suppress the protesters.The encounter began after Government Forces launched a cordon and search operation in Chan Mohalla Munghama Sirnoo village of Pulwama after receiving specific intelligence inputs about the presence of militants in the area.Reports said that as the joint team of army's 55RR, SOG and 182/183 BN CRPF started searching area, the militants fired at them, triggering a gunfight.While gunfight was on, hundreds of people hit to roads and tried to disrupt the operation. The deployed Forces used pellets, tear-gas shells and bullets to disperse them who in retaliation hurled stones. During the intense clashes dozens of protesters were wounded, mostly by bullets.Reports said that at least seven civilians were killed in Forces action. Wounded youth were shifted to different hospitals where seven of them succumbed to their injuries while many more are battling for life. The slain civilians were identified as Touseef Ahmad of Urchersoo, Liyaqat Dar of Parigam, Suhail Ahmad of Ballow, Shahbaaz of Monghama, Pulwama, Amir Ahmad Paul of Ashminder, Murtaza Bashir and Abid Hussain Lone of Kareemabad, an MBA pass out from Indonesia were killed as government forces resorted to live ammunition besides pellets and tear smoke shells near the encounter site to chase away the protesters.The gunfight resulted in the killing of three militants and a soldier. Militant outfit Hizbul Mujhadeen identified the three slain militants as Zahoor Ahmed Thokar, Tahir Hizbi and Hashim Ahmed.
Meanwhile, Police in a statement said that a search operation was launched jointly by the security forces based on a credible input about the presence of militants in Monghama area of village Sirnoo in District Pulwama today morning.During the search operation, which was an open field with hideout made by the militants, hiding militants fired indiscriminately leading to an encounter.Consequently Army personnel got injured and one Army jawan succumbed to his injury while others are being treated at a hospital.While the operation was going on, a crowd who came dangerously close from different parts to the encounter site got injured.The injured were evacuated to hospital where unfortunately seven persons succumbed to their injuries.Others who were admitted in the hospital are stated to be stable.“The loss of civilians is deeply grieved. Police once again appeals the citizens to remain away from encounter site as it is a prohibited zone which involves significant danger to life because of nature of the encounter.”In this encounter three militants were killed. Bodies were handed over to the legal heirs after completion of medico-legal formalities.One of the killed militant has been identified as Zahoor Ahmad Thoker son of Abdul Majid Thoker resident of Sirnoo Pulwama. Pertinently, Zahoor had deserted from Army last year and joined HM terror outfit. He was a known militant commander and was wanted by law for his complicity in a series of terror crimes including attacks on security establishments and civilian atrocities. Several cases were registered against him and the prominent among them are case FIR No. 37/2018 U/S 307 RPC 7/27 I.A.Act P/S Rajpora, Case FIR No. 105/2018 U/S ¾ Exp Sub Act, 427 RPC, 3 P.P.T Act P/S Pulwama, Case FIR No. 124/2018 U/S 7/27 I.A. Act, 148,336,149,307 RPC P/S Pulwama, Case FIR No. 128/2018 U/S ¾ Exp Sub Act 307 RPC P/S Pulwama, Case FIR No. 139/2018 U/S 307 RPC 7/25 ULA of P/S Pulwama pertaining to the killing of policemen Aqib Ahmad Wagay of Puchal Pulwama.Police has registered a case in the matter. Incriminating materials including arms and ammunition recovered from the site of encounter have been taken in case records for further investigation and probe their complicity in other terror case. (CNS)